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Woodlands County briefs: new landfill rates debated

Woodlands County Council debated the the fees for disposing of waste at the Whitecourt Regional Landfill during its regular meeting on March 6.

County administration stated that the landfill charges commercial industry and residents who are disposing extra waste with fees in order to keep a balanced budget. For 2018, the County also implemented, through the Solid Waste Management Authority, a higher rate and limited waste disposable to 150 kilograms per day for both Whitecourt and County residents.

Coun. Bruce Prestidge noted that residents with large loads could be rural residents who don't go to the dump regularly and thus shouldn't necessarily be charged fees.

"It's just easier for some people to go once a month," Prestidge said.

Dale Rankel, manager of solid waste operations, stated that residents could potentially have pre-purchased cards and that he would bring this option up with the authority.

Coun. Ron Govenlock also listed several points that he wanted clarified, such as a potential lack of communication to residents regarding new fees. He also noted that frustrated residents could also resort to illegal dumping.

"As a resident, I become the victim," Govenlock said.

Rankel replied that residents would still end up paying in the end if landfill costs all came out of taxes and that illegal dumping is consistently around 2 per cent for all areas.

"There was illegal dumping no matter what you did because you always had a certain percentage of people who did not want to pay," he added.

Coun. Dale McQueen stated that Rankel had done a considerable job with improving the landfill since he had taken his posts. McQueen added that Govenlock's concerns were blown out of proportion.

"Every time you add another service out there or another something else, somebody's got to pay for it," he said.

Council moved to take these recommendations back to the authority.

Water hookup rates

Council discussed why developers at the Whitecourt Airport have lower water service hookup rates compared to new subdivisions

Beginning the conversation was Woodlands County Mayor Jim Rennie who stated that council previously asked County administration to see what the hookup rates were with concerns that they might not be equitable.

"The discussion I heard council having was that prices were too high," Rennie said.

Govenlock noted that the hookup rates for airport/industrial were $21,000 while new subdivisions paid $24,000 per new lot.

"I understand why because it supposedly costs us less," Govenlock said. "But overall, it's still part of the cost and so that inequity between what we charge one user and what we charge another user I think has the potential… to create some conversation and perhaps some unhappiness."

"Why should the airport guys get charged less?" he added.

Meanwhile, existing residential hookup is $18,000. These fees cover the cost of the water lines leading up to the lot, while the developer also pays for the line in their property.

Council deferred on making a decision until more information was brought back by administration.